Bay Area briefs

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco's new Roman Catholic archbishop made self-deprecating jokes about his recent drunken-driving arrest during his formal installation ceremony, which came just days after he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving.

But Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone, a strong supporter of California's ban on same-sex marriage, did not refer to the distress his appointment has aroused in this gay-friendly city and mentioned marriage only obliquely Thursday.

Amid heavy security and the splendor of his faith's most sacred rites, Cordileone told an audience of more than 2,000 invited guests at St. Mary's Cathedral he was grateful for the support he had received from people of different religious and political viewpoints following the Aug. 25 arrest in his home town of San Diego.

"I know in my life God has always had a way of putting me in my place. I would say, though, that in the latest episode of my life God has outdone himself," Cordileone said with a chuckle as he delivered his first homily as archbishop.

San Jose girl reunited with stolen puppy

SAN JOSE (AP) — There's a happy ending for a Northern California girl who offered her piggy bank savings for the return of her stolen puppy.

Ten-year-old Marissa Mabanag's dog was stolen during a burglary this week at her San Jose home.

The girl offered the contents of her piggy bank to boost the $6,000 in reward money gathered by San Jose police and firefighters unions and Councilman Ash Kalra.

Her dog Meeko, a shih tzu-Yorkie mix, was found Wednesday in a Target store parking lot 80 miles away in Merced County.

Police union president Jim Unland says Blanca Del Real, the woman who found the puppy at the Los Banos Target store parking lot, will receive the $6,000 reward.

Northern California man dies from rabies

MARTINEZ . (AP) — A Northern California man has died from rabies believed to be contracted from an encounter with a bat in Contra Costa County.

The Contra Costa Times says an investigation shows the man apparently contracted rabies in the southern part of Contra Costa County in late March after coming into contact with a bat.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta says it has identified 59 people who came into contact with the man. Twenty-three of them have been given post-exposure rabies shots.

SF judge orders trial for women accused in scam

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A judge has ruled that three women must stand trial on charges tied to a scam targeting elderly women in the Chinese community.

San Francisco prosecutors say the three women stole more than $100,000 worth of cash and jewelry from women they approached on the streets by telling them they could remove a curse if they handed over their money for a "purification" ceremony.